by Leo Whitlock

Best-selling author Ken Follett gave a masterclass to budding writers on Friday night.

The creator of the Pillars Of The Earth entertained the 150-strong crowd at the Cathedral Lodge in a fundraiser for The Canterbury Gift appeal.

The husband of Labour MP and government minister Barbara Follett told of his love of cathedrals and how he was pleased to have ditched story lines involving the KGB and the Nazis for medieval historical novels.

Mr Follett said that the Pillars Of The Earth took him three years and three months to write and said every book should see a story turn every four to six pages.

He revealed that he is a meticulous planner when putting together a book and lives by the mantra that detail leads to realism.

A gospel-themed Elvis Presley act helped raise thousands of pounds towards the conservation of the Cathedral.

The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley, held on Saturday, was organised by the south eastern branch of the official Elvis Presley fan club and the Always Elvis Gospel Group.

It saw 700 people fit in to the nave of the Cathedral, to hear songs such as Stand by Me and Amazing Grace.

The evening raised more than £7,000 for the Canterbury Gift Appeal.